EAST CRAIGIE v MONTROSE ROSELEA

McBOOKIE.COM EAST REGION NORTH DIVISION

SAT NOV 19^th 2011

 

Roselea travelled to Craigie Park Dundee to face one of the Scotlands oldest clubs. The “Shipbuilders” have shown big signs of improvement under their experienced Junior duo of Craig Brown and Sean Wilkie and recent wins over Inverness City and Brechin Vics confirmed that they were not going to be a pushover.

 

Roselea travelled with a full compliment of players with only Co Manager Ralph Brand missing his first game in 4 years with a trip to London to celebrate his wifes 40^th birthday. One positional change took lace from the team that beat Kirrie Thistle 1-0 with Colin Kennedy replacing Scott Riach.

 

Roselea: Mcleod, Colquhoun, Reoch, Whyte, R Taylor, Anderson, Rae, Kennedy, Urquhart, Fletcher & Collier. Aitken, P Taylor, Riach, Mustard, Rodger, Craig & Hood.

 

The match kicked off on a very damp surface which would inevitably cut up and would be stamina sapping.

 

It was Roselea who cut the first opening in 5 minutes when Collier held the ball up and played Ryan Taylor down the left before cutting back with Craigie clearing before Fletcher could pounce.

 

Roselea had a goal chopped off in 12 minutes with the referee intent on following the Craigie offside appeals. Logie spilled Kennedys shot but Fletcher was adjudged to have come from an offside position.

 

Urquhart had started well for Roselea going past his opposite number three times and that was where the opening goal came from in 17 minutes. He made his way to the byeline and his cut back was deflected into his own goal by ALLAN leaving Logie stranded.

 

Craigie almost handed Roselea a second two minutes later when Etchells passed the ball back to Logie when he was least expecting it and Kennedy pounced with the ball breaking out to Collier who shot narrowly wide.

 

Taylor had a 30 yard drive for Roselea go over then Craigie had their first shot on target when Mcleod saved well from Gray who hit a low shot from 22 yards.

 

Urquhart went on another searching run on 31 minutes and played Collier in however Logie saved well with his feet and the ball spun behind for a corner.

 

Craigie were awarded a free kick from 22 yards in 31 minutes and Scrimegours effort went just over forcing Mcleod to scurry along his line to cover.

 

On 36 minutes Paul Whyte headed a well driven Kennedy corner just wide of the post and Fletcher could not adjust his body to steer it home.

 

On 41 minutes Roselea had Paul Whyte to thank for keeping their lead intact. Roselea were caught on the break and when Constable looked like he was about to hit the net, Whyte slid in with a great tackle to block with the ball eventually being shot over from close range by McDonald.

 

Roselea eventually doubled their lead in 43 minutes with the very quiet Stewart FLETCHER the scorer. Some good play between Kennedy and Collier ended with the ball falling to Fletcher who turned his marker inside out before shooting home with his left foot from 10 yards.

 

Half Time East Craigie 0 Montrose Roselea 2

 

Roselea started the second half slightly sloppy and East Craigie had the first chance on 56 minutes when Small found himself with a bit of room on the flank and sent in a dangerous cross come shot which fizzed past the far post.

 

Calum Rae went on a run and kept going after being impeded and set Collier up for a shot which went just wide.

 

Anderson went on a mazy run on 63 minutes and played a great ball to Fletcher with Craigie claiming offside, the striker delayed his shot and Logie managed to block it before Rae followed up with another shot which was deflected behind for a corner.

 

East Craigie had a penalty claim on 68 minutes which was never going to be given then Gray shot the loose ball goalwards but Mcleod gathered well.

 

Fletcher had another chance for Roselea on 70 minutes but as he went to stroke Colliers cutback the ball took a bobble and his opportunity was snatched from him. Another two minutes later the same opportunity arose however the roles were reversed as Roselea missed another chance to put the game beyond reach.

 

In 73 minutes Hood replaced Kennedy who had put in a good shift on a very sapping surface.

 

In 77 minutes East Craigie were given the lifeline that they shouldn’t have had if Roselea had taken their chances when they were awarded a penalty kick. Reoch had made his mind up he was going for the ball and could not pull out of his challenge in time felling Constable in the process. Sub ADAM stepped up and placed his kick in the bottom corner giving Mcleod no hope of saving it.  Roselea went from being on easy street to having to work for the three points.

 

A minute later Reoch almost redeemed himself when he went on a strong run from his own 18 yard box carrying the ball then playing a one-two with Collier before bringing out a great save from Logie.

 

Roselea had another chance in 80 minutes this time via a free kick from 20 yards which saw Fletchers curling effort strike the corner of the post and bar and go behind.

 

Their was one last chance for East Craigie when Mcfarlane got his head to a flighted free kick but Whyte had done enough to put the tall defender off.

 

Bob Urquhart appeared to be elbowed off the ball just as referee Leslie blew his final whistle and Roselea were glad that the three points were safe.

 

Final Score: East Craigie 1 Montrose Roselea 2 

 

Roselea were always in control but the missed chances in the second half meant that there was always a door open for East Craigie. Perhaps at times they were over elaborate with their choice of finishing and maybe on a heavy pitch it would have been a better policy to shoot on sight. The three points were secured and a combination of plucky East Craigie and heavy conditions maybe contributed to the outcome. Roselea stay in second place and with North Ends defeat at Kirrie they open up a gap. Leaders Violet stay 5 points in the lead with a convincing 5-1 win at home to Coupar Angus.

 

Next up for Roselea is a home visit in the League against Lochee Harp who were defeated 3-2 in the reverse fixture. Kick Off is at 1.45pm